magazine & professional
Mar 6, 2023
Remembering Nel Noddings (1929-2022)
Joel Westheimer’s Blog
Westheimer pays tribute to renowned educational philosopher Nel Noddings, highlighting her pioneering work on the ethics of care and her enduring impact on humanizing democratic education.
Mar 23, 2022
What does it mean to be well-educated?
Education Canada
Westheimer challenges the obsession with curriculum coverage and test metrics, arguing that being well-educated is defined not by memorizing information, but by developing critical thinking, curiosity, and civic commitment.
Mar 26, 2020
Parents: Stop Giving Kids Worksheets and Trying to Replicate School
Joel Westheimer’s Blog
Westheimer advises parents to ditch home-schooling worksheets in favor of authentic learning, play, and curiosity-driven exploration during times of disruption.
Nov 29, 2018
Plus ça change: Democratic goals for civic education in the digital age
Education Canada
Westheimer shows that despite evolving digital tools, the core mission of civic education remains constant: equipping students to think critically, question sources, and engage in democratic life.
Nov 1, 2017
What kind of citizens do we need?
Educational Leadership
Westheimer analyzes the three types of citizenship taught in schools, arguing that a strong democracy requires critical, justice-oriented thinkers rather than passive rule-followers.
Aug 14, 2014
Ode to Robin Williams
Joel Westheimer’s Blog
Reflecting on Robin Williams’ portrayal of an inspiring educator, Westheimer argues that schools thrive on teacher autonomy and creative passion rather than standardized tests and rigid rubrics.
May 30, 2014
Maxine Greene
Joel Westheimer’s Blog
In this tribute post, Westheimer honors the legacy of renowned educational philosopher Maxine Greene, reflecting on her transformative concepts of "wide-awakeness" and social imagination, and her lifelong commitment to democratic, art-infused education.
Summer 2011
Once Upon a Time, Not Too Long Ago, Teaching Was Considered a Profession…
Independent School
This article traces how high-stakes standardized testing, rigid curricula, and merit-pay schemes have de-professionalized teaching, stripping autonomy and humanity from the education system.
Spring 2010
No child Left Thinking: Democracy at Risk in Canada’s Schools
Education Canada
This essay demonstrates how standardized testing and curriculum narrowing endanger Canadian democracy, urging educators to prioritize critical reasoning over metric-driven compliance.
Jan 2008
What Kind of Citizen? Democratic Dialogues in Education
Education Canada
Westheimer presents a framework for citizenship education, arguing that schools must move beyond personal responsibility to foster participatory and justice-oriented democratic citizens.
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Feb 1, 2008
Thinking About Patriotism
Educational Leadership
This publication contrasts blind loyalty with democratic patriotism, arguing that true civic education teaches students to question authority and view dissent as a vital patriotic act.Apr 1, 2006
Politics and Patriotism in Education
Phi Delta Kappan
Published in Phi Delta Kappan, this article examines the surge of top-down patriotic policies in post-9/11 schools, contrasting "authoritarian" demands for blind loyalty with "democratic" patriotism that encourages critical questioning and active citizenship.Sep 2003
Teaching Democracy: What Schools Need to Do
Phi Delta Kappan
Kahne and Westheimer argue that schools must move beyond high-stakes testing and passive volunteerism, offering practical ways to teach real political engagement and critical democratic citizenship.Sep 2003
Reconnecting Education to Democracy: Democratic Dialogues
Phi Delta Kappan
Westheimer and Kahne challenge nonpolitical approaches to civics, advocating for education that prepares students for active political engagement and critical democratic debate.n.d.
Citizenship Education for a Democratic Society
Teach / Le Prof
This publication explores how citizenship education shapes democratic life, arguing that schools must teach students to question authority, analyze systemic issues, and engage in thoughtful civic action.